Haemostatic clip holder

Abstract

The support (1) which is in the form of an elongate strip, possesses clip supporting and retaining means which co-operate solely with web portions (51-52) of a clip (5) leaving the lateral limbs (50) thereof free; the support means comprise at least one bearing face (200) against which the web portion (51-52) of a clip rests, while the retaining means comprise a thin flexible tongue forming a blocking tab of a length that is not less than the height of the clip, and normally bearing against the web portion (52), but capable of moving away therefrom along a path that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the clip in order to release it when an upwardly-directed traction force is exerted on the clip. The support is applicable to surgical equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hemostatic clip support for supporting a set of clips (5) that are approximately U-shaped, each comprising a web portion (51-52) and a pair of lateral limbs (50), the support (1) comprising an elongate strip having means for individually support and retaining the clips side by side in an upside-down position in parallel transverse planes (T), wherein said means co-operate exclusively with the web portions (51-52) of the clip (5), while the lateral branches (50) thereof are free, the support being characterized by the fact that said means for supporting and retaining each of the clips (5) consists firstly in a fixed portion (2) carrying at least a bearing face (200) against which the web portion (51-52) of the clip (5) rests, and secondly in a moving portion (3) in the form of a thin tongue that is elastically deformable in bending, of a length (1) that is at least equal to the height (l 1 ) of the clip, and that includes at its top portion a blocking tab (30) of bulging convex shape for bearing against the central zone (52) of said web portion of the clip to retain it, these two portions (2, 3) having converging inlet walls (21, 300) for guiding the clip (5) and for moving the blocking tab (30) away temporarily while the clip is being put into place. 
     
     
       2. A support according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fixed portion (2) possesses two bearing faces (200) which support intermediate zones (51) of the clip (5) situated between its central zone (52) and its lateral limbs (50). 
     
     
       3. A support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the fixed portion (2) possesses an end-of-stroke abutment-forming face (220) for the clip-extraction forceps. 
     
     
       4. A support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the various fixed and deformable portions (2, 3) are placed head-to-tail in pairs such that each of the fixed portions (2), other than the end fixed portions (2a, 2b), serves to retain two clips (5) in association with two deformable tabs (30). 
     
     
       5. A support according to claim 1 to 2, characterized by the facts that said tongue-shaped moving portion (3) is of a width (i) that is substantially smaller than the width of a clip (5), and that it is located between fixed elements (6) which the lateral limbs (50) of a clip are placed to face. 
     
     
       6. A support according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the various fixed and deformable portions (2, 3) are placed head-to-tail in pairs such that each of the fixed portions (2), other than the end fixed portions (2a, 2b), serves to retain two clips (5) in association with deformable tabs (30). 
     
     
       7. A support according to claim 3, characterized by the facts that said tongue-shaped moving portion (3) is of a width (i) that is substantially smaller than the width of a clip (5), and that it is located between fixed elements (6) which the lateral limbs (50) of a clip are placed to face. 
     
     
       8. A support according to claim 4, characterized by the facts that said tongue-shaped moving portion (3) is of a width (i) that is substantially smaller than the width of a clip (5), and that it is located between fixed elements (6) which the lateral limbs (50) of a clip are placed to face.